Plenary 2: Harnessing the Power of IT as a Game Changer for Scaling

This webinar introduces the power of IT as a game changer for scaling, if harnessed correctly. The session used a framework of five ways IT has been a game changer:

• IT makes possible the use of real-time information
• Makes possible a deeper level of analysis: where the problems exist, which solutions have the greatest effect, and who are the leading individuals on the subject?
• Transactional efficiency: what are the network effects? When something is done on a large scale there are much more benefits than on a small scale. Bringing down unit costs
• Possibility to ensure quality control that allows for control and oversee of what people are doing
• Widening circle of participation from all areas of the innovation ecosystem (from global, class, professional levels)

However the are also issues to the use of IT:

• Privacy: putting data into systems can lead to invasion of privacy
• Unequal access: the digital divide can exclude people due to lack of access to the infrastructure
• Monopoly and domination: a level of monopolization is available now that previously did not exist

This webinar’s discussion of the incredible uses as well as the challenges caused by IT also included perspectives from multiple professionals. A panel discussion on the perspectives of Verna Lalbeharie, Parmesh Shah, and Dr. Sanjeev Arora aided in providing a better understanding of the topic from a variety of professional and their insights gained from a range of careers including technology and health.